Vickerman, Melbourne United for Four More

Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman has extended his contract with the club for a further four years.

Vickerman currently sits 16th all-time on the NBL’s games coached list, with an incredible winning record of over 62 per cent. He has led United to two Championships and five Finals appearances since joining the club in 2017.

The new deal will see him remain in the head-coaching role until the end of the NBL28 season.

“It’s amazing. As a professional coach, it doesn’t come around that often to be locked into a great club that you’ve been a part of for six years already,” Vickerman said, after re-committing to the club.

“Melbourne United is always where I wanted my basketball journey to end up.

“Coming full circle after playing for the Tigers back in the day before travelling around and getting the experience I did in New Zealand and Sydney, I wanted to come back here and coach and I wanted to coach for as long as I can.

“Being able to see my kids finish school while I’m the Head Coach of this club, it’s an amazing feeling.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HERE. TO. STAY.<br>We are very excited to announce that three-time Championship winning Head Coach Dean Vickerman has extended his contract with the club for a further four years, keeping him in Melbourne through until the end of the NBL28 season.<br>More: <a href="https://t.co/xOhxbhmjug">https://t.co/xOhxbhmjug</a> <a href="https://t.co/YhW0XfJ54o">pic.twitter.com/YhW0XfJ54o</a></p>&mdash; Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited/status/1648567121948053504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Melbourne United CEO Nick Truelson paid tribute to Vickerman’s longevity and success as a coach.

“Dean is a career coach and with one season left on his contract we proactively worked with him and his agent Bruce Kaider on what an extension could look like,” Truelson said.

“What we’ve put together is what we believe to be the best move for Melbourne United as well as for Dean and his family.

“Outside of what he does on court, Dean works tirelessly off it, driving our Melbourne United Basketball Academy and community programs while engaging with our corporate partners, members and fans.

“Our club ownership is delighted with the opportunity to lock Dean in long term as our Head Coach knowing we have one of the best coaches in Australia leading us forward as we look to chase down another NBL championship."

United has made several big moves in the off-season, securing the signatures of Luke Travers and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr in recent weeks.

“We’re about trying to win every year,” Vickerman added. 

“We’re not just building a team for three years down the track, we’re about winning Championships and contending for a title every year.”

Tanner Krebs and Flynn Cameron have also joined Melbourne for the NBL24 season, as it looks to bounce back into Finals contention.